December 1, 1938 - October 25, 2024
Anna Slepoy, born Anna Rybak, of Belmont, California, passed away at her home on October 25, 2024 at the age of 85. Anna is survived by her brother Leonid, daughter Marianna, seven grandchildren Natasha, Violet, Siona, Nathan, Katya, Nicole, and Sasha, and great-grandson Misha. Anna joins her husband Alan (Ilya) Slepoy, her son Alexander Slepoy, and her grandson Konrad Slepoy who have passed.
Anna was born in Odessa, Ukraine on December 1, 1938. As a young woman, Anna met her husband and got married before having a son, Alexander, and a daughter, Marianna, nine years later. Anna worked as a mechanical engineer in the Soviet Union before immigrating to the United States with her family. Anna and her family first came to St. Louis, Missouri, then moved to San Francisco before ultimately settling in Belmont, California.
When we think of our mother and grandmother, we remember her as kind, smart, loving, determined, generous, and above all, fiercely devoted to her family. Anna prioritized the health, happiness, and well-being of her husband, children, and grandchildren. She would call her grandchildren and extoll the benefits of reflexology or send an email with step-by-step instructions for a new vegan recipe they should try. Caring was in her nature.
Anna was well-loved by her community. Anna and her husband Alan founded "touristkaya groupa", a group of soviet immigrants who would meet in regional parks to hike, picnic, sing and dance, and enjoy spending time together-often taking their grandchildren Nathan and Nicole along, who spent a great deal of time in their care and learned a lot from their joyful nature. When Anna's grandchildren visited from the east coast, she would pack them in the car and drive them out to a local hiking trail, where she would walk so quickly that her grandchildren couldn't keep up.
As she grew older, Anna maintained a youthful spirit and valued her friendships. Neighbors would often see Anna walking with her friend Alice up and down the hills of Belmont. On Thursdays, Anna would catch the shuttle to the senior center, attend an exercise class, and play chess with her friend John. On many early mornings, Anna would walk two houses down to her daughter's house to grab a cup of coffee and say hello.
We hope that when people think of Anna, they think of the fullness of her life. The people she loved and cared for, the friends she cherished, and the obstacles she overcame. Anna was vital in countless ways. We will never forget her.
Friends and relatives are invited to an outdoor service at Salem Memorial Park Cemetery on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 1:30PM.
"Those we love never truly leave us. There are things that death cannot touch."